Blades of Honour. Tales of Men - PRODUCT CATALOGUE 2019 - TRC Knives
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Blades of Honour. Tales of Men. PRODUCT CATALOGUE 2019
Blades of Honour. Tales of Men. Brand New Identity. Same Old Excellence.
Dear friends,
We put this catalogue together to introduce collection of knives, we made sure that each
the new brand identity of TRC Knives. During knife is also a carrier of empowering narrati-
the last nine years, the company has grown ves of manliness. You can learn all about
from the humble experimentations of one this worldview in the following pages.
knife enthusiast to a successful and
ever-growing international enterprise. The new identity is not limited to new knife
Thanks to a network of reliable retail names and new storytelling. There’s a whole
partners, our hand worked knives are now bunch of changes including new product
available in more than twenty countries packaging, new ‘Knife ID’ handbooks, and
worldwide, including the U.S., Canada, Germa- new company website. Dear friends, do
ny, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Russia, continue to read this catalogue to learn
the United Kingdom, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, more about our assortment of knives, the
Slovakia, China, Malaysia, and Taiwan. hero-themed knife narratives, the values
that are common to us and our customers,
So why the new identity? At its core, the the insights and marketplace reflections
rebranding process was about forging a from our country partners, and other interes-
deeper relationship with our end-custo- ting topics pertaining to the fascinating cultu-
mers. As a brand, TRC Knives is not just re and industry of knives.
about making excellent knives. It is also
about protecting and celebrating certain Andrius Tricius
ways of living. In launching the Tales of Men Founder and head designer at TRC Knives
4
Introducing the New Collection
(pages 6-19)
In the first section, dealers and end-customers are
introduced to the Tales of Men collection. Six excellent
knives and six heroic stories from history. Each model
is not just a badass multifunctional knife, but also a
CONTENT true talisman of manliness. Through the intertwining
of functionality and narrative, each knife captures and
expresses different aspects of strength, practicality,
ambition, self-sacrifice, resistance, freedom, and other
timeless virtues.
TRC Stories from around the World
(pages 20-21)
In the second part, we interview our dealers plying
their trade in the markets of Germany, the U.S., and
Finland. Three knife experts share their insights about
changing consumer preferences, new market trends
and the magic that draws their customers to TRC
Knives.
The Art of Knife Making
(pages 22-25)
Next up is an interview with Andrius Tričius, TRC’s
head designer, about the art of knife making. Andrius
talks about TRC’s competitive edge and discloses
several secrets behind the making of a perfect knife. In
a surprising confession, he also explains how sleeping
with knife porotypes helps him come up with new
design ideas.
The Cursed and the Blessed
(pages 26-29)
In the last article, the reader is introduced to the team
of artisans behind TRC knives. The Japanese have
always believed that katana swords embody the
character of the swordsmith. Swords and knives are
similar in this way. So, before you decide to buy a knife
or go to business with a new knife maker, it’s always a
good idea to learn a bit about the temperament and
character of artisans who are making the knives.
5
Old Heroes for a New Age
“We know from experience that, for most cus-
The Man and tomers, an everyday carry knife is much more
than a handy tool, it’s part of their identity, a sort
of talisman,” says Andrius Tričius, the founder
His Knife: and head knife maker at TRC Knives: “With our
new line of knives, we explore the idea of a talis-
man in a deeper sense, summoning the stories
A Deep of heroes past to give each knife a unique char-
acter.”
Relationship The collection draws inspiration from the great
men from different time periods and different
lines of activity: Frank Lockhart, the legendary
Introducing the New Collection
American race driver; Roald Amundsen, the
great Norwegian explorer; Giuseppe Garibaldi,
the acclaimed Italian freedom fighter; Ernest
Hemingway, the American novelist, camper, and
What does it mean to be a man? And is there still world-class angler; and the warrior tribe of Sen-
a place in our culture for a true manly honour? tinelese people. Forthcoming knife models will
Because, let’s face it, we live in a time when the feature stories of other illustrious characters
definition of manliness is being constantly rede- from history.
fined. And it seems that there are powerful forc-
es at play seeking to constrict, and narrow down
the boundaries of manliness, and acceptable
manly behavior. Choosing is Half the Fun
In the next page, you can learn the stories of
At TRC Knives, we stand firmly against these these men, as you explore in detail the new
cultural trends. We believe that manliness is a collection. The link between particular knife
timeless and universal category, and that the models and selected historical narratives is not
moral code of manly behavior is unalterable. accidental. The underlying mood and themes of
That is why, with our new collection of the story match the mood and the functions of
knives, we decided to turn back to history. the knife.
It is in the past that we discover the tough-
est, and most honourable examples of For example, the new “Speed Demon” model is a
pure manliness. If anyone tells you fashionable urban EDC knife, and this modern
another bullshit argument about how adrenaline-charged mood is captured through
men need to adapt to the new world the story of Frank Lockhart, a badass American
and new gender roles, you tell them racer from the interwar period who dedicated
to take a history lesson. Because, if his life to chasing the land-speed record. As you
it wasn’t for men who were men, analyse the different models, their technical
our world would be a poor and features, and their functional purposes, you will
lifeless place to live in. discover how the stories match, express and
enhance the experience of the knife. Each model
Each knife in our Tales of Men represents both different use purposes and
collection of knives is themati- different ideals of manliness. Choosing, as they
cally connected to the great say, is half the fun.
men of history, and to their
testosterone fueled life
stories. Each narrative Names that Carry Power
tells a different tale of
manliness, and offers The new TRC knives are named in the honour
inspiration to the mod- and memory of men who – each in his own spe-
ern men who are seek- cial way – elevated the concept of manhood to a
ing to stand their whole new level. The Tales of Men collection
ground against the currently includes six knives: “Speed Demon”,
culture of moral “South Pole”, “Mille Cuori”, “Apocalypse”, “This is
and physical . Freedom”, and “Classic Freedom”.
weakness.
“The model names have been engraved on the
blades, so that the owner can remember the story
every time he’s holding the knife in his hands,”
explains Mr. Tričius: “It is our humble hope that
these heroic narratives will inspire knife enthusi-
asts to be the best versions of themselves.”
6
Blades
Tales
Brand New Iden
7
SPEED DEMON
Chasing the land-speed record is the ultimate quest of the
modern man. In the roaring twenties, this dream was epitomized
by Frank Lockhart, America’s legendary racing driver. A true
daredevil, a self-learned mechanic, and a true speed demon,
Lockhart was the definitive hero everyone talked about at
their dinner tables. In 1926, he became the youngest winner
of the Indy 500 at just 24. Lockhart went on to win many
more prestigious races, capturing the imagination of the
American people. But his true goal was the elusive
land-speed record. On April 1928 ,25, Lockhart climbed
aboard his remarkable supercharged V16 Stutz Black
Hawk on Daytona Beach. Just 25 years old at the time,
Lockhart was flying at a record-breaking 220 miles
per hour when suddenly the right rear tire blew, and
the world stopped turning. Today, his legend lives
on, as the speed demons of our age are continuing
to push the boundaries of the possible.
When handcrafting this urban-style knife, we
thought about Lockhart and his way of life. A
light-weight model of 70g, SPEED DEMON
features innovative urban design and a
skeletonized handle. For stylish and awe
inspiring every day carry, you really can’t go
wrong with SPEED DEMON: it looks as sharp
as it cuts. It is small enough to carry
comfortably, yet up to the most
challenging cutting tasks. The knife
measures 180mm overall and 4,2mm
thick with 80mm hand ground blade.
Handmade Kydex ® sheath is
included. It is a knife for those who
are ambitious and seriously
addicted to adrenaline. Whoever
will own the SPEED DEMON knife,
will feel the power of roaring
and untamed manliness
rushing through their blood.
8
APOCALYPSE
There’s a place in the Bay of Bengal by the name of North Sentinel
Island. It’s a place you shouldn’t go to. The Sentinelese reject any
kind of contact with the rest of the world, and have lived this
way for thousands of years. Marco Polo described them as “a
most brutish and savage race, having heads, eyes and teeth
like those of dogs.” To this day, no outsider has had success
trying to enter the mysterious island. Whoever dears to
approach North Sentinel, is attacked by the home-proud
islanders with apocalyptic rage. And who could blame
them? The way they feel when approached by the Other,
is pretty much the same way we would feel if
approached by aliens. What would you do in this
scenario?
We created the APOCALYPSE knife for do-or-die
survival situations. To improve your chances of
survival during the apocalypse, we handcrafted
this knife from a thick slab of premium quality
steel. APOCALPYPSE sports a blade that is
172mm long. What’s more, it features textured
handle scales that, together with great thumb
jimping, provide the apocalyptic warrior with
a comfortable and reassuring grip. With a
total length of 300mm, this beastly-looking
survival knife will make your enemies
think twice. Just looking at it, you know it
means business. APOCALYPSE comes
with a handmade Kydex® sheath. If our
planet is ever under attack, we will
need the real man to show up. The
kind of man who loves his home as
much as those crazy Sentinelese
islanders love their island.
10MILLE CUORI
Heroes aren’t made in a day. Giuseppe Garibaldi was a fisherman,
and a candle maker before he became one of the greatest war
leaders of all time. With all cards stacked against him, he
mobilized a thousand volunteers (The one thousand) and won
battle after battle against corrupt and passionless regimes.
To liberate and unite his beloved Italy, the great general
chose men like him. Give me the ready hand rather than the
ready tongue, he said. And to those who wished to follow
him, he promised nothing but hunger, thirst, forced
marches, battles, and death. Because that’s what it
took.
For many years, we have dreamed about designing a
perfect military knife in the image of a fearless
military man. To celebrate our collaboration with
military clients, we came up with MILLE CUORI which
is a knife designed specifically for tactical
operators. This knife is made from premium
quality steel which is perfect for hard use and
guarantees razor sharp cutting edge. The hand
ground blade measures 132mm long. To
protect the steel from elements we coated it
with extra tough DLC coating. Featuring
waffle textured scales, MILLE CUORI has an
outstanding grip, ensuring absolute
control in both wet and dry conditions. For
universal functionality, the knife has a
pommel which can be used as a
hammer. MILLE CUORI comes with a
handmade Kydex ® sheath. Carrying
the power and intelligence of a
thousand warriors, MILLE CUORI is a
must-have knife for both soldiers
with military ranks, and civilians
with military hearts.
12SOUTH POLE
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. But only those
who go prepared, can withstand the tough. Moving on skis and
dog sleds and facing death on multiple occasions, Roald
Amundsen and his men were the first ones to reach the South
Pole. People called him a hero and an inspiration. But
Amundsen was a practical man who explained his success
in practical terms. I have foreseen every difficulty and I
have taken every precaution for meeting and avoiding it,
he said. Victory awaits him who has everything in order.
At TRC knives, we wanted to create a knife in the spirit
of Amundsen’s practicality: a perfect utilitarian knife
for dealing with every possible natural challenge. The
SOUTH POLE model features a thick spine which is
perfect for heavy work. 115mm long drop point hand
ground blade is ideal for all kinds of survival and
camping applications. What’s more, the belly is
just long enough to make SOUTH POLE a great
knife for game cleaning, food prep and other
day-to-day uses. To top it off, the model
features a protruding round spine, creating a
comfortable feel when holding it. Jimping
combined with textured scales provide
perfect traction and control in any situation.
Handmade Kydex ® sheath is included. In
the end, it doesn’t really matter if you are
going to Antarctica, or to the nearby
forest. With SOUTH POLE, you will go
prepared.
14THIS IS FREEDOM
He may have enjoyed winning a Nobel Prize in literature, but not
as much as he adored camping and fishing. Ernest Hemingway
was a great adventurer and a true man of nature. As a
youngster, he spent his days practicing his angling skills in the
rivers of Northern Michigan. In his early 30’s, he graduated to
deep sea fishing. Along the way, Hemingway won every
organized fishing tournament imaginable. As one story
goes, the great writer almost missed his wedding
because his mind was too immersed in fishing during one
of his expeditions. He found his passion in fishing, and
his freedom in nature.
THIS IS FREEDOM is a knife for men like Hemingway. It is
the knife of choice among fishermen and true nature
lovers. THIS IS FREEDOM’s utilitarian design and slick
profile give this knife amazing slicing and piercing
properties that will be appreciated by
experienced knife users. This model is 238 mm
in total length, and weighs around 145g. The
hand ground blade measures 118mm long. THIS
IS FREEDOM is designed with a natural and
exceptionally ergonomic grip. Textured and
polished scales feel comfortable in the
user’s hand in both wet and dry conditions.
The knife comes with a handmade,
vegetable tanned leather sheath. Having
a family is a blessing, but for some of
us, taking time off for camping and
fishing is a must. THIS IS FREEDOM is
exactly the kind of knife you’ll need
on these special expeditions.
16CLASSIC FREEDOM
He may have enjoyed winning a Nobel Prize in literature, but not
as much as he adored camping and fishing. Ernest Hemingway
was a great adventurer and a true man of nature. As a
youngster, he spent his days practicing his angling skills in the
rivers of Northern Michigan. In his early 30’s, he graduated to
deep sea fishing. Along the way, Hemingway won every
organized fishing tournament imaginable. As one story
goes, the great writer almost missed his wedding
because his mind was too immersed in fishing during one
of his expeditions. He found his passion in fishing, and
his freedom in nature.
CLASSIC FREEDOM is a knife for men like Hemingway. It
is the smaller version of the original THIS IS FREEDOM
knife. CLASSIC FREEDOM was intended for
sophisticated and minimalist campers and
anglers. The knife measures 205mm in total
length, and weighs 100 grams. Featuring a hand
ground blade that is 92mm long, this is an
extremely efficient utilitarian knife. For smart
users seeking comfort and efficiency, less is
often more. The scales and the knife’s profile
underwent a special polishing procedure to
give this knife a truly classic, almost
luxurious look. The knife comes with a
handmade, vegetable tanned leather
sheath. Going to the great outdoors for
some camping and fishing? Take
CLASSIC FREEDOM with you, and enjoy
the precious moments of freedom.
18TRC Stories from
Around the World
An interview with TRC dealers
in the U.S., Germany, and Finland
TRC Knives are distributed worldwide through a network of retail
partners. Not only do we rely on our partners to sell our knives, but
they are also our eyes and ears in the different markets. In this article,
we’re bringing you an interview with three of our most loyal partners:
Richard Scholz from Tools for Gents (Germany), Mihail Pinhasov from
Lamnia (Finland) and Vlad Kovalov from Rosarms/RussianKnives.com
(USA). These three experienced knife professionals were asked a few
questions about the reception of TRC Knives in their respective market-
places.
is that you must be a mature person to appreciate the
When and how did you first learn power and quality of a TRC knife.
about TRC Knives?
Richard: As a dealer, you really want to have a brand
like TRC knives at your disposal. First, it offers a great
Mihail: It was back in 2012. Internet was already price/quality ratio. Second, all models feature clear
buzzing with positive reviews of TRC knives. So, we design and functionality. Third, TRC collection is quite
decided to find out what all the fuss was about. We diverse, so it’s easy to attract different people.
were not disappointed.
Mihail: Selling TRC Knives is like selling cocaine. My
Richard: I found about TRC Knives from German knife customers get hooked on TRC knives. When
reviewers on YouTube. They were not modest in their somebody buys a TRC knife, they most likely will buy
praise for this brand. Alright, I thought, I have to check all available models sooner or later. What’s the secret?
this out for myself. It was the beginning of 2016. I You know it better that I do. The superb quality, fit and
arranged a meeting, jumped on a plain, and here I was finish especially. Customers are also pleased with
talking knives with Andrius in his workshop in Lithua- high-quality materials used in all TRC knives, and also
nia. I brought back several models including Apoca- their European origin. The feedback is nothing but
lypse, K-1 S, and Splinter XS. “excellent, perfect, extraordinary, exceptional, fantas-
tic” – think of any other super positive adjective.
Vlad: American customers have a profound respect for
bushcraft knives made in Russia and other Eastern Can you share some insights
European countries. So, after I had read Russian-spo-
ken forums rave about this new brand from Lithuania,
about new trends in the knife
I knew we must have it in our assortment. After I had business and the changing pref-
received my first TRC knife, I fell in love immediately. erences of your customers?
How are TRC Knives received by Mihail: The industry is as vibrant as ever. First of all,
Chinese manufacturers are flooding the marketplace
your customers? Why do they with new products. In order to withstand this pressure,
choose this brand over others Western manufacturers must work really hard to
when they do? What type of demonstrate a higher level of quality. In terms of the
culture of knife use, we see that more and more people
customers are most receptive to are actually buying an accessory, rather than a tool. On
TRC knives? the other hand, we are also witnessing a boom in
bushcraft culture, which is resulting in a higher
Vlad: Knife enthusiasts are impressed by the quality of demand for bushcraft suitable fixed blade knives. I
TRC knives, and the materials from which they are think that, at TRC Knives, you are making all the right
made. The quality of craftsmanship sure ranks TRC moves to play these trends to your advantage.
knives very high. In the U.S., a typical TRC buyer is a
person around 30-50 years old, middle class, an enthu- Vlad: I believe that the world of fixed blade knives is
siast of knives and outdoor lifestyle. What this tells me experiencing a “return to the roots” moment. People
20want simple design, reliable materials, less art, more
practicality. This helps explain the lure of TRC knives. I
see a different trend in the “flippers” market where
Chinese companies are changing the rules of the
game. And not necessarily in a bad way. They are now
collaborating with professional designers, and can
offer great folding knives for reasonable prices.
Thank you for your great
insights. We’d also like you to tell
our readers a bit about your own
business. How did you develop a
personal passion for knives?
And how does this passion trans-
late to doing great business?
Richard: My colleague Florian is a quality manager at a
big steel products company in Germany. He is very
Florian Sommer, Richard Scholz knowledgeable in all things steel. I’m more a fixed user
in the Swiss and German woods. For both of us, collect-
ing knives was, and still is, a passion and a hobby.
When we launched toolsforgents.de, we did it with no
big expectations, and had no idea it could grow to a
booming business that it is today. But now we realize
that our store concept filled a real human need. It
represents a one stop shop for gentlemen seeking top
quality gentlemanly accessories like knives, watches,
leather products, etc. We are having a tough time
keeping up with all the orders, which is a nice problem
to have. Today, more than 40 percent of all orders are
shipped outside Germany.
Mihail: Our road to cutlery business was a happy
accident. We started selling knives around 2009. Our
customers wanted to buy some Finnish Puukko knives
from our physical store in Lappeenranta, and so we
started to keep small quantities in stock. The knives
sold very well, and we decided to stock on knives from
other countries too. Then it struck me that this is
where I could put my e-commerce education to use.
Mihail Pinhasov We launched Lamnia.com, and it has been very
successful in attracting knifeaholics from all over the
world.
Vlad: The story goes back to my childhood. I was 5
years old when I got my first knife. It was a small
classic multi-blade folding knife. And since then I have
developed a powerful passion for knives. During the
USSR time, it was hard to find a good knife in the store,
but we had a lot of “handmade” knives made privately.
One of my favorite fixed blade knives was made from
the old blade of a scythe. When I first came to the USA,
I saw an empty market niche. Nobody was selling
Russian knives. Even on eBay you couldn’t find
anything decent. We started selling Russia-made
knives in my online store – RussianKnives.com As the
company began to grow we realized that we don’t
want to limit us to just Russian knives and expanded
to the larger Eastern European region. Our mission is
to introduce high-quality knives made in this area of
the world to knife enthusiasts in all corners of our
beautiful planet! Our goal, for now, is to find talented
Vlad Kovalov knife makers in that area and bring them to the USA
market through our store.
21WHAT’S
MOVING AND
SHAKING IN THE
ART OF KNIFE
MAKING?
Andrius Tricius talks about knife
industry trends, the key attributes
of a good knife, and history as the
ultimate source of inspiration.
Let’s dive straight into the key
trends that are shaping the
knife industry. How should
dealers and consumers
choose between different
producers, and different
knife models?
The marketplace is very complex, but I will
try to simplify it for you. The industry is
divided into two main groups of knife
manufacturers. One group of knife mak-
ers are all about the utilitarian quality
of their knives. How well and how
long will a knife perform in heavy
duty operations? That’s their main
question, and their main objective.
They use simple, but efficient and
time-tested materials to make
high-performing knives. For
these manufacturers, design
is merely an afterthought.
The other group is all about
design and the artistic
value of the knife. What
they are targeting are not
users, but rather collec-
tors of high-end knives.
They operate under an
assumption that,
whoever agrees to
pay a hefty price
for a luxurious
knife, will be reluc-
tant to put that
knife to use.
Some of these
knife makers
22describe their products as jewellery for men,
which tells a lot about their approach.
And where do you stand in
this divide?
We want to make this dichotomy obsolete. In
my opinion, a perfect knife should be both use-
ful and valuable as a collectable. So, let’s say a
man is a bushcraft enthusiast, and he will use
the knife every week on his expeditions. Now
let’s say after twenty or so years he passes the
knife on to his son. His son, let us suppose, is
more of an indoor type guy, but he values the
knife as a family relict and a collectable item,
and he exhibits the knife behind glass in a
display cabinet. But then, years later, his son
picks it out of the cabinet, and takes his grandfa-
ther’s knife on a camping trip. And it works fine
all these years later. At TRC Knives, we hand-
craft knives for such scenarios. Quality, utility,
longevity and design must all go hand in hand.
We are awake to the fact that even collectors are
more appreciative of a knife that was actually
made for cutting, not just for good looks. We real-
ize this is a very ambitious paradigm. But that’s
what we are striving for.
You identified quality, utility,
and longevity as the key
characteristics of a good
knife. What factors go into
making such a knife? And will learn a lot. But in the
what mistakes in the manu- end, experience is the best
teacher.
facture process can produce
a bad knife? Heat treatment consists of three
main stages: hardening, cryogen-
A bad knife has a blade which is either too hard, ic cooling and tempering. To
or too soft. You need a sweet spot which is very achieve perfection, you have to
hard to achieve. A blade that is too hard will lack follow this technological process
elasticity and will suffer damage when used in with maximum precision. If done
contact with hard materials. A blade that is too correctly, heat treatment gives you an
soft will lose sharpness and will wear down edge that is hard enough to hold sharp-
quickly. Knives need to be hard enough to hold a ness for long periods of time, and is
sharp edge through continuous use, yet flexible resistant to wear. But you also have elas-
enough to withstand forceful use without break- tic properties: when it comes to contract
ing. with harder materials or encounters shock,
the blade won’t chip or break. Just one
And how do you find the single mistake in the heat treatment process,
however, can compromise this balance. A cou-
sweet spot? ple of minutes too long in the heat or a couple
degrees of the mark and you end up with a badly
It takes years of experience to master the art of treated blade. At TRC Knives, we take heat treat-
proper heat treatment. It takes knowledge of ment very seriously.
different heat-treating processes and the
features of different types of steel. You also
need to have delicate temperature controlling And what about the materials
equipment. So, it’s a combination of having the knives are made of?
state-of-the-art machinery, scientific knowledge,
and craftsmanship which can only be acquired We use the best materials in the market. Some of
through years of practice. You can read thou- our favourite materials are powder metallurgy
sands of erudite tomes on metallurgy, and you steels, mainly from Bohler-Uddeholm, such as
23M390, Elmax, Vanadis 4 Extra. When it comes to
handles, TRC gives preference to three top quali-
ty materials:
Micarta ® - our most beloved handle material
which is made from cotton canvas. It is strong,
reliable and gives users that great natural feel
when holding the knife.
G-10 – composite material made from glass
fibers. It comes in a variety of vivid colours and
is practically indestructible.
Carbon Fiber – extremely light and strong mate-
rial that we use mainly in our custom knives.
Due to its fancy looks and patterns, this materi-
al is greatly appreciated by professional knife
collectors.
How are new models born
at TRC knives? create is selected by our team of professionals
to be offered to our dealers and end-customers.
I could talk hours about this. But I’ll try to
make it short. To make constant improve-
ments in functionality, ergonomics, and Your answer covers function-
product longevity, you have to talk to ality. But what about style
the actual users of the knives. There-
fore, we keep regular contact with the
and design? TRC collection
military, the hunter community, and features an impressively
regular knife enthusiasts, campers, rich variety of different
bushcrafters, etc. After several
prototypes of a new model are
styles, sizes and designs.
made, we distribute them among Where does this creativity
the experts. Corrections and come from?
improvements are then made
according to the feedback we For one thing, you have to analyse the market
receive. What I also like to do and the changing preferences of consumers.
is to hold the knife in my But you cannot simply react to market trends,
hand while I am sleeping. I because then you will be a copycat with zero
know it sounds bizarre. originality and innovation. I think what drives us
But when I wake up, I most at TRC Knives is our passion for history:
know what changes both knife history, and general history. Most of
need to be made to our guys are big readers of historical literature.
make the knife feel as Many of our new ideas originate from these read-
a natural extension ings and the discussions we have about them in
of the hand. In the the workshop. As you can see, we have also
end, only around reworked our branding along these lines. Our
one out of ten knives celebrate the stories of the great men
models we that made history fascinating.
24Blades
Tales
Brand New Iden
25The Cursed and
The Blessed
Meet the team behind TRC Knives
Katana Mysticism
Goro Masamune (1264–1343 AD) was a Japanese priest and a
renowned swordsmith. His katana swords were famous for
their supreme sharpness, durability, and elegance. But then
there was also something magical about them. People believed
that Masamune’s katana embodied the benevolent and honoura-
ble character of the swordsmith. It was even said that Masam-
une’s swords would suddenly lose their sharpness if their wield-
er would try to harm an innocent person. These were blessed
swords to be used only for the sake of the good.
26Masamune’s story is often contrasted to that of Sengo Murasama swords were universally regarded as yōtō
Murasama (born before 1501 AD), another genius (cursed katana).
swordsmith from Japan. Today he is regarded as one
of the finest craftsmen in the history of katana swords. The motif of the story is that it’s a wise idea to do your
But not everybody would want to have a Murasama. It due diligence and check who the people making your
is said that the man was very rageful and emotionally swords or knives are. Because a character of the tool
unbalanced, bordering on the insane. Legend has it is a reflection of the character of the craftsman.
that Murasama would often pray that his swords
become ‘great destroyers’. For centuries to come, the 5.000 Miles West of Japan
Murasama swords were synonymous with evil. A Far away from Japan, there is a small town in Lithua-
Murasama katana would always ‘feel’ a thirst for nia called Ukmergė. This is where TRC knives are
blood, and would possess its wielder until that thirst is made. Both dealers and knife enthusiasts are always
satisfied. It is even said that many owners of Murasa- welcome to visit us in our workshop. But for those of
ma swords committed suicide, as they were unable to you who can’t make the trip, we want to give some
deal with the sword’s demonic powers. After years and background information about the men behind the
years of wreaking havoc on Japan, in the 18th century knives. So here goes.
27Andrius Laimonas
His affection for knives is equalled only by his passion Laimonas is another nature and outdoor life enthusi-
for the forest. Whenever he has time to spare, Andrius ast. Just recently, Laimonas and Andrius went on a
takes his family or his co-workers to the depths of week-long survival expedition into the woods with
some random Lithuanian forest. A dedicated camper nothing but their knives in their pockets. Laimonas is a
and bushcraft enthusiast, he puts his knives to use to self-learned camping expert who is often sought for
make everyone around him feel safe, warm, and full. advice by novices in the art of bushcraft. Laimonas is
Another lifelong enthusiasm of his is for off-roading also a hard-core lover of snowboarding and hiking.
which Andrius takes up during the cold seasons.
Role at TRC: Laimonas oversees all stages of knife
Role at TRC: literally everything from knife designs to production.
dealer relationships, from business strategy to
teambuilding.
Rokas Karolis
The newest member of the team, Rokas is a profession- Karolis believes in the holy trinity of Rock ‘n’ Roll,
al collector of knives and other cutting and chopping hard-core metal, and badass knives. As soon as his
tools. What he brings to the table is extensive knowl- shift at the office is over, he rushes over to the studio
edge of knife types and their history. An excellent to practice with his metal band. Karolis is also a
communicator and knife expert, he has become a truly marketing savant and one of the main driving forces
great ambassador of our brand. behind the new brand strategy of TRC knives.
Role at TRC: Rokas is responsible for wholesale Role at TRC: Karolis is responsible for all marketing
distribution partnerships and client relationships. and social media activities. He also oversees all
individual knife orders.
28Donatas Alvydas
You think Gorō Masamune was a kind and noble crafts- A serious workaholic, Alvydas makes good use of his
man? You should meet Donatas. One of the kindest golden hands. After his shift is over, he switches from
and most helpful persons you would ever meet, knife making to the manufacture of paracord lanyards
Donatas is also a great metals craftsman. Outside and key chains. His other hobbies include aerographic
work, he likes to keep things calm and simple. An painting and carving.
action movie night with his family is all he really needs
to feel good. Role at TRC: Alvydas is an experienced Kydex ®
sheath maker. Many of our clients take time to empha-
Role at TRC: Donatas is responsible for blade grinding, size how pleased they are with the quality of TRC
one of the most demanding processes in the making Kydex ® sheaths. This is all thanks to Alvydas.
of any knife.
Svajunas
Svajūnas is a hard-core fisherman who is also very
competitive about it. Every Monday morning, we must
hear all about what he caught during the weekend. His
enthusiasm for fishing is equaled only by his other
passions for off-roading and moto sports.
Role at TRC: Svajūnas is responsible for the manufac-
ture of handles and the final assembly of all knives. In
these tasks, the cost of an error is enormous. You need
a man with nerves of steel for this job. We’re lucky we
have Svajūnas.
29Blades of Honour. Tales of Men.
At TRC Knives, we handcraft tough and awe-inspiring multi-
functional knives, so that men can enjoy the rough pleasures
of nature, and undertake any challenge the outdoors may
present them with. Our “Tales of Men” collection of knives was
inspired by the great men of history who elevated the
concept of manhood to a whole new level. Each knife tells a
different story of manhood and honor. Therefore, every TRC
knife is not just a badass multi-purpose knife, but also an
empowering talisman. Check out the “Tales of Men” collection.
TRC Knives was founded in 2010 by Andrius Tricius, a knife
devotee from Lithuania. Employing extensive knowledge of
metallurgy, ergonomics and design, Tricius and his team expe-
riment relentlessly to come up with hardcore one-of-a-kind
knife models. Only the highest quality materials are used at
TRC Knives, such as the M390, Elmax, Vanadis 4 Extra. The
range of products includes knives for bushcraft, hunting,
tactical operations, apocalyptic survival, and every-day-carry.
“After developing a new knife prototype, I take it to bed and
sleep holding the knife in my hand. I wake up in the morning
knowing exactly what needs to be changed to improve on the
prototype” –
Andrius Tricius
CONTACTS:
ADDRESS: Vytauto st. 6-6, Ukmerge, Lithuania
OFFICE PHONE: (+370) 630 24229
EMAIL: info@trcknives.comBlades of Honour.
Tales of Men.
SPEED DEMON APOCALYPSE MILLE CUORI
SOUTH POLE THIS IS FREEDOM CLASSIC FREEDOM
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